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GAIUS GRACCHUS

Gaius Laws- Scullard
Gaius became one of Romes greatest orators
He was well-known to the people because of this as he ! supported Carbos proposal for re-
elcetion to the tribunate
- opposed Pennus alien act
- expressed approval of Flaccus measure
- defended himself for leaving Sardinia
- rebutted a charge of complicity in the revolt of Fregellae
Thus he was readily elected as tribune for 123, he was also easily elected to a second tribunate
His first proposal was to prohibit any magistrate or tribune who had been deposed by the people
from holding any further office
This partially legitimised Octavius deposition and could have been potentially revolutionary as it
justified the deposition of tribunes who acted against the wishes of the people
Cornelia persuaded Gaius to drop it
(this was used as a threat to the senate because if passed, it would ruin the senatorial control over
tribunes because no tribune would allow to be bribed for their veto, as the tribunate was only a
stepping stone for higher positions. Gaius dropping of the proposal was carefully planned to show that
he wasnt revolutionary)
Gaius declared that all courts with powers of capital punishment were illegal unless they had been
established by the people
This was aimed at tribunals who set up law courts to try Ts supporters
The law was made retroactive ! Popillius (who arranged courts) was impeached and exiled
BRADLEY ! both of these were aimed at avenging Ts death
G also re-enacted Ts agrarian bill, removing the limitations that Aemilianus had imposed on the
commission
BRADLEY - However, this reform only touched the surface of the problem and had to significant
long-term effect
He also established some colonies in Italy, which were outlets for surplus population and also for
commercial reasons, these were quite successful
This also could have been stimulated by corn shortages in Africa and Sicily
The state was also to buy corn in bulk, store it in warehouses and sell it on a monthly ration to
citizens slightly below market price
This reduced variation form year to year and prevent private profiteering in lean years
Later, Roman moralists criticised G for this because eventually it was used as a tool for the state
to bribe the poor (because they reduced the price and reduced it until it was free)
BRADLEY ! possible motive: to detach the plebs from their patrons
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This did alleviate hunger in the poor and also G the support of the urban mob, for a short time.
However it probably also contributed to the mobs selfish refusal to support citizenship for the allies
Other popular measures ! roads in Italy were constructed (provided employment, improved
communications), improved army conditions
The issue with the allies was "clearly close to his heart#
He probably also attempted to expand franchise to the Latins in 123, but failed
He obviously needed more political support
Perhaps this is why he turned to the Equites, or perhaps he just thought that they could be used
as a counterweight to the senate
He carried two measures which benefited them ! the taxation of Asia and the jury courts
He enacted that the right to collect taxes in Asia would be auctioned by the censors at Rome
Since a lump payment was made and the profit made form the collection, only the Equites would
have had sufficient capital
This allowed the Equites more opportunity to expand on their wealth - because the contractors
couldnt be tried for extortion (only senators could)
G later sponsored a measure, probably moved by Acilius, to transfer the court from the senate to
the Equites
This gave the Equites influence over the senators (which wouldnt have been achieved if the
Equites had simply been added to the senate)
Cicero says that the Equites resisted the temptations of exploiting their position
If this is true then Gs measure was good because it gave the Equites a position in the state more
consonant with its importance
But it antagonised relations with the senate
G also carried a measure against the judicial corruption, making bribery a criminal offence, but it
only applied to the senators, not Equites, because it was passed before the courts were transferred
Another measure was that to fix the provinces before the consuls were elected, thus the senate
could less easily reward its favourites with the best provinces

Tactics of the Senate
1. The Senate used another tribune, Livius Drusus to outbid G for the support of the people in the
hope of humiliating and destroying him
Plutarch:
Gaius Actions Senates response
G introduced a measure to found 2 colonies,
composed of reliable citizens
S accused him of trying to ingratiate himself
with the people
They approved of Livius proposal to found 12
colonies, each of 3000 of the poorest citizens
G distributed public land among the needy
citizens on the condition that a small rent be paid
S protested angrily and charged him with
currying favour with the masses
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They supported Livius when he proposed that
they remove the rent
G proposed to grant equal voting rights to the
Latins
The aristocratic party professed to be deeply
offended
They approved Livius bill that no Latins
should be beaten with rods, even during military
service

2. When G attempted to reintroduce and widen the appeal of his franchise bill, people from all over
Italy flocked to Rome to support him. Plutarch says that S persuaded the consul, Fannius "to expel
from the city all persons who were not Roman by birth# He also played on the selfishness of the
people to undermine the proposal
3. While G was away in Africa, his enemies spread rumours about the number of unfavourable
portents associated with the new colony. The people were convinced that these indicated the
displeasure at the gods with the enterprise. Drusus also took this opportunity to attack his friends
and associate, Fulvius Flaccus. He was accused without any evidence of stirring up trouble
among the allies and this hatred extended to G also.
4. a very bitter opponent of G was Opimius, a leading senator who was almost certain o be elected
consul for 121. It was generally known that, once in office, he would appeal many of Gs laws.

Status of Italian and Latin Allies
Romes expansion within the peninsula was not the result of a consistent policy of aggression, but
it was also not all based on defence (as was later claimed)
Some of this conquered land was incorporated into the Roman state (ager Romanus) while the rest
were bound to Rome by varying treaties
Roman Citizens
Public rights- vote in assembly
- hold office as magistrate
- pay taxes
- serve in Roman legions
- were subject to magistrates
Private rights ! validity of marriage, wills and inherit property (connubium)
- could buy land and get a fair price (commercium)
- had the right of appeal to an assembly against the act of a magistrate (prvocatio)
Allies (socii) The Roman State (ager
Romanus) Latin Allies (nomen
Latinum)
Italian Allies (socii Italici)
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C
o
n
s
t
i
t
u
e
n
t
s

The city of Rome
Annexed territory in Latium,
S.Eturia and Campania and
through Sabine territory to the
Adriatic
The 27 colonies and the
small garrisons
Latin towns that werent
absorbed by Rome
New Latin colonies !
they were given land for
farming but were primarily
military in function (on non-
Roman territory)
150 communities
(Greeks, Etruscans and
Italians)
Bound to Rome by
treaties
R
i
g
h
t
s

a
n
d

D
u
t
i
e
s

Two classes of citizens-
Full citizens ! with political
and private rights, usually lived in
or near to Rome so they could
attend assemblies
Citizens without political
rights ! had private rights but
couldnt vote
Both groups were subject to
taxation and military service in the
legions
Private rights of
commercium and
connubium
Self-government
Could move to Rome
and become citizen if a son
of military age remained in
the colony
Service (not in Roman
legions) in separate
divisions
Self-government
No taxes to Rome (not
placed under Roman
magistrates)
Foreign policy controlled
by Rome
Liable for military quota
(service in separate
divisions)

G proposed to extend citizenship to the Latin allies and the Latin status to the Italian allies
He failed in this because Fannius undermined the bill by working on the selfish interests of the
voters in Rome and their jealousy of the allies
The nobility feared that an influx of new voters might disturb their control of the assemblies
The Equites wanted to avoid giving any advantages to their Italian commercial rivals
The pleb didnt want to share the benefits of citizenship ! cheap grain and entertainment
It was also perhaps vetoed by Livius

The Senates SCU
SCU ! senatus consultum ultimun
This was a resolution which allowed the consuls had to make sure that the republic suffered no
harm
This warned the magistrates that the Senate regarded the situation as critical and although it didnt
increase their constitutional powers, it reassured them that they had the Senates moral support

The significance of the Gracchi
Difficult to assess the Gracchi because of sources (biased)
The reforms of the Gracchi were long over-due and their programs were genuine attempts to deal
with Romes problems
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They were frustrated with the conservatism and selfishness of the oligarchy and so adopted
methods which threatened the balance between the senate, the magistrates and the people which had
existed for a very long time ! in this way they can be regarded as revolutionary
They probably interpreted the problems too simply and they failed to see that the Roman society
had changed
S also failed to see these changes and reacted to the Gracchis actions in the only way they could
- violence

GAIUS GRACCHUS LAWS

Equestrian
Reform Aim of G Results Long-term effects
The juries in law
courts were to be
made up of Equites
not senators
To gain favour
with Equites for his
allies legislation
To give the
Equites a share in gov
and weaken power of
senate
To stop the juries
lenience towards
corrupt governors
(members of their own
class)
Gave Equites
some political power
Made provincial
governors at the
mercy of the Equites
(so many governors
turned a blind eye to
them)
Equites became a 3
rd

political force in Rome
Within 10 yrs most
had aligned themselves
with either the senate or
the people for their own
political gain
Control of courts was
an issue of contention for
next 50yrs and hostility
between classes
The contract for
the collection of taxes
in Asia was auctioned
by censors
Only the Equites
had the capital to bid
They paid a lump
sum then collected
the taxes + profit from
the provincials
To finance his
social reforms
Gain support of
Equites
To avoid creating
a board of financial
officials
To protect
provincials from
exploitation by
governors
Gave Equites
opportunities to make
enormous profits
(legally and illegally)
Inadvertently created
more injustice and caused
provincials misery and
suffering as the Equites
exploited them
A law was passed
against judicial
corruption
This made the

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bribery of juries a
criminal offence
Only applicable to
the senators, not the
Equites because it
was passed before
the courts were
transferred to the
latter

Senate " Consular Provinces
Reform Aim of G Results Long-term effects
The consular
provinces had to be
allocated prior to the
consular elections
(previously had been
decided after their
year of office)
To preventn
senators from
rewarding their friends
with favourable
provinces
To improve
efficiency in provinces
The senate still
choose the provinces
to be allocated, since
they knew what was
needed in foreign
affairs
Didnt improve
efficiency in the provinces

Urban and Rural Plebs
Reform Aim of G Results Long-term effects
The state bought
grain supplies and
stored in public
warehouses
The gov would
sell a monthly ration
to citizens at a low
price
Relieve growing
poverty and hunger of
urban mob
To reduce the
annual fluctuations in
corn process
Prevent private
profiteering
Provide
employment (building
of warehouses)
To detach plebs
from patrons
Alleviated the
hunger of the poor
Gave G the
support of the urban
mob, for a short time
Probably
contributed to the
mobs refusal to
support citizenship for
allies
These measures were
perverted by politicians
who used it as a political
bribe and dole
Not Gs fault
Proposition of
colonies in Italy and
overseas
To relieve
overcrowded cities of
poor and unemployed
To continue his
Colonies did
alleviate the poor and
crowded conditions
This was the
beginning of a new type of
colony ! urban and
commercial
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brothers policy of
rehabilitating the
peasantry
To attract those
with capital to
establish industries
This was the
forerunner or later
overseas settlements of
Romans under Caesar
Construction of
an extensive system
of secondary roads
Employment
Improve
communications
Help farmers get
grain to markets
Roads which had
been previously built
for strategic purposes
now provided direct
communication
between fertile areas
and facilitated Italian
agriculture
These became part of
the extensive network of
Roman roads which
served the empire
Soldiers were to
be provided with
clothes by state
Youths under 17
werent allowed to
enlist
To improve
conditions in the army
Helped the
peasantry who made
up the bulk of the
legions
This was the
forerunner of further army
reforms introduced by
Marius
Courts with
powers of capital
appeal were declared
illegal unless they
were set up by the
people
Made retroactive
To avenge his
brothers death by
challenging the
senates action of
putting his supporters
to death without a trial
Polpilius, the
consul of 132 who
presided over the
tribunal which tried Ts
followers, was
impeached and exiled
Reaffirmed the ancient
principle that a citizens life
was under protection of
the assembly
Extend
citizenship to the
Latin allies and Latin
status to the Italian
allies
To solve a
potentially dangerous
situation which was
embittering political life
Recognise and
acknowledge support
given by allies
To gain the allies
support in his attempts
top further weaken the
senate
Vetoed by Livius
Drusus and opposed
by most sections of
society
Nobility feared that
they would disturb
their control over the
assemblies
Equites didnt
want to give away any
advantages to their
Italian commercial
The allies eventually
took their citizenship by
waging war on Rome
which almost destroyed
the Roman state
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rivals
Any magistrate
who was deposed
from office by the
people should be
disqualified from
further office
To avenge his
brothers death, aimed
specifically at Octavius
Cornelia
persuaded him to drop
it (supposedly)
N/A